Members of the Ghana Catholic Community lay their hands on three catechumens.

A sponsor places her hands on the shoulders of two catechumens.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde signs a parish Book of the Elect.

The Rite of Election is celebrated the first week in Lent
around the world and is considered one of the most
significant evangelical events in any diocese. It's a
ceremony of the election of catechumens and a call to
continuing conversion of candidates preparing for reception
into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

Catechumens are the non-baptized who receive the sacraments
of initiation: baptism, confirmation and Eucharist at the
Easter Vigil. Candidates are baptized Christians, very near
full communion with the church, and who will receive the
sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

On Holy Saturday, these men and women will be received into
the church. It's a journey that starts with an inquiry into
the faith, and then the start of the formal process called
the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

In the Arlington Diocese, the number of catechumens and
candidates this year is more than 700, so two ceremonies were
planned to accommodate everyone. But with a snowstorm
forecast for Feb. 21, Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde
canceled that evening's Rite of Election ceremony. The Feb.
22 service was held as scheduled with clear skies and warm
temperatures greeting catechumens, candidates and their
sponsors.

One of the catechumens scheduled for the Feb. 21 ceremony was
Wing T. Wong. Wong grew up in Hong Kong, and said that
religion was not part of her life. Her mother told her that
Jesus came to the world to die for our sins, but said that it
was fiction.

When she was 13, her family moved to South Carolina, where
she attended the University of South Carolina.

"I had more than enough to focus on: piano, school, SATs
(and) family events," said Wong. "Who has time for religion?"

After graduation, she moved to the Washington area for a job.

She heard two co-workers talking about the church they
attended and wondered, "Why is everybody going to church, and
why are they so persistent that they go to church every
Sunday?"

She began researching Christianity and was persuaded to go to
a non-denominational church. It was an experience she
enjoyed. She worshipped at the church for about three years.

Wong said that everything changed when she met her boyfriend,
and sponsor, Jayson Padilla. Padilla was a born and raised
Catholic, and religion was part of the conversation early in
their relationship. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament
Church in Alexandria, where they both worshipped.

For a while, Wong attended two churches - Blessed Sacrament
and the non-denominational church.

Always the researcher, Wong studied Catholicism reading
Behold the Mystery: A Deeper Understanding of the Catholic
Mass by Mark Hart.

After developing an appreciation for the rituals of the Mass,
she went to Mass at Blessed Sacrament exclusively.

After about eight months, she said she had a sudden
overwhelming feeling of peace at Mass. She said it was a
"lightbulb" moment that happened during the breaking of the
bread.

"It dawned on me, that God specifically chose that particular
moment at Mass to reveal to me His presence," said Wong.

Wong said at first, her family was not very supportive of her
decision to become a Catholic. She talked to her mother about
her conversion, and "Now she's ok with it."

Wong was disappointed that snow canceled the Feb. 21
ceremony, because being blessed by the bishop at the Rite of
Election would have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She
also wanted to experience going through this journey with
catechumens and candidates from other parishes.

"(I'm) definitely excited and grateful to be in full
communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil," said
Wong. "I have been counting down the number of days until
Easter first thing every morning."

Those who attended the Feb. 22 rite were equally pleased.

In his homily, Bishop Loverde welcomed the catechumens and
candidates and spoke of the enduring joy of encountering
Jesus. The bishop also assured catechumens and candidates
that they are all in his prayers.

The catechumens were presented to the bishop by Father Paul
F. deLadurantaye, Arlington diocesan secretary for religious
education and sacred liturgy. The catechumens stood as the
sponsors and congregation affirmed their readiness to be in
full communion with the church.

Then the catechumens stated their desire to enter fully into
the life of the church.

Representatives from each parish presented the Book of the
Elect for the bishop's signature. As sponsors placed their
hands on the shoulders of the catechumens, the bishop
declared the catechumens members of the elect to be initiated
into the sacred mysteries at the upcoming Easter Vigil.

Next, Father deLadurantaye called the candidates for
confirmation and Eucharist for presentation to the bishop.
They stood in place with their sponsors as the bishop asked
if they had listened faithfully to instruction, have a deeper
appreciation of baptism, reflected on the tradition of the
church, and advanced in love and service.

The bishop asked the congregation if they support the
testimony of the sponsors and include the candidates in their
prayers and reflections.

After affirmative responses, the bishop recognized their
desire to convert and invited them to join in the repentance
of Lent.

The bishop dismissed the congregation with, "Go in peace, and
may the Lord remain with you always."

Lisa Petcoff and Katharine Schulze are catechumens from Holy
Trinity Church in Gainesville. Both women were impressed by
the reverence of the Catholic Church.